Revelation 22:1-2 Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.
The passage above is a description of John’s vision of the new, better everlasting type of the former Eden to come (see parallel from Genesis 2:10-14).
However, we can see a spiritual parallel for us as Christians:
Once we become the sons and daughters of God, we can enter the throne of the presence of God through worship. The river represents God’s Spirit alive in us (just as water is consistently used as a representation of the Spirit of God throughout scripture). When we dwell daily in His presence and are filled with God’s Spirit, our lives will be fruitful, and the fruit of our lives will remain fresh and new. Our love won’t grow cold, our joy won’t dissipate, and our peace will remain constant even in the midst of life’s challenges, trials and storms. Once we personally experience the life, restoration, and healing of God, we can then be used to bring life, restoration, and healing to others, and, as this scripture says, ultimately, to the nations.
Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ John 7:37-38
(Also see John 4:14 & Ezekiel 47)
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow evil men’s advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God. But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on His laws and thinking about ways to follow Him more closely. They are like trees along a riverbank bearing luscious fruit each season without fail. Their leaves shall never wither, and all they do shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3
Ponder It 